The Aircraft Data Hierarchy: A Modern Aircraft Configuration Data Standard

The Aircraft Data Hierarchy (ADH) represents a transformative Model-based Systems Analysis & Engineering (MBSA&E) data storage format for standardized aerospace data exchange, specifically designed to address critical challenges in the aerospace industry's digital transformation of its multidisciplinary design processes. This technical document outlines the development, structure, and prototype Python implementation of an open-source ADH as a solution that integrates systems analysis with systems engineering using a recursive Model-Based Systems-of-Systems Architecture (MSoSA) structure aligned with established standards. The ADH facilitates efficient exchange of critical information—geometry definitions, disciplinary tool inputs/outputs, and engineering requirements—through a centralized, validated data structure implemented using Pydantic v2, with support for serialization in JSON, YAML, and XML formats. The initial ADH architecture was designed by Boeing with support from NASA, GE Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, and the University of Michigan to gather a wide and varied set of requirements. This paper details the ADH's high-level architecture, including an example integration with NASA’s MBSA&E framework, its hierarchical organization of aerospace data, and its adaptability to accommodate diverse aircraft configurations. The use of a centralized authoritative data source like the ADH reduces data duplication, enhances cross-disciplinary and cross-organizational collaboration, improves traceability, and supports digital thread continuity. This ultimately enables more efficient and innovative aircraft design processes. The ADH is poised to become a fundamental component of future aircraft design systems. However, continued investment and industry involvement through AIAA and other avenues are needed to realize the full transformative potential of the ADH.